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Monthly Archives: May 2019

This past week in #CPChatNow was busy as always. Members discussed their support system, issues with transportation companies and graduation, and more. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

It’s graduation season! Members shared their experiences and difficulties with graduation due to accessibility issues. Chris shared her graduation is at a baseball stadium and Blake shared he was able to successfully navigate his ceremony. I shared my difficulties at my ceremony, but also on a happy note some improvements that were made.

Next, members talked about issues with transportation, Uber and Lyft and also paratransit. There have been continuing issues with accessing Uber and Lyft for disabled people. This conversation stemmed from an Uber driving refusing to pick up a wheelchair user and Lyft being in an ADA lawsuit and arguing they are not a transportation company.

Chris shared she had a continuing wait for paratransit today per usual. Zach shared his hesitancy to sign up for paratransit because of the need to see a neurologist who he hasn’t seen in years.

Next, members talked about support systems. Chris shared her disability support system has helped her in numerous ways.

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question. Let’s talk about support systems. Zach shared in the chat his support system helped him accomplish his goal of being a marathoner. What is the biggest thing your support system has helped you accomplish?

Participants in the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow proved anything but speechless Wednesday, May 15th, 2019. I am #CPChatNow co-host Zachary Fenell here to recap our community’s response to Speechless‘ cancellation. The subject remained the conversation’s main concentration throughout the night.

Devin’s had asked, “What is your favorite memory of Speechless?” Seth recalled the moment JJ met Lee, the character played by guest star Zach Anner. I praised that episode “R-U-N– RUNAWAY,” saying “that episode did wonders to show the importance of role models.” Personally though, my favorite Speechless memory differed.

My favorite Speechless memory goes back to season one and the show calling out the “inspirational porn” perspective. I remembered thinking “They are going for it. Awesome!”

Meanwhile Ajani, a past guest star on the show, said his favorite memory dealt around the episode Ray tried playing basketball to win a girl. Ajani found the pain Ray went through to impress the girl believable. The more everyone talked favorite memories, the more additional memories surfaced.

Seeing Ajani’s name made me think back to the episode he guest starred in, the season two finale “N-O– NOMINEE.” Specifically I loved the sequence involving getting JJ onstage to accept his award. Ajani commented he found that whole scene “like a page out of my life!” He proceeded to share details.

Over the years Ajani found himself attending events at inaccessible venues. To get in Ajani relied on different people to lift him up steps. His story gave me flashbacks to a tale I heard my fellow #CPChatNow co-founders Handicap This! share before. Mike and Tim’s story entailed a multi-floor movie theater and perhaps the quickest elevator ever repaired!

Based off the abovementioned dialogue one can positively say Speechless created empathetic television. This fact raises the week’s extend-the-conversation question. “Share a Speechless scene you related to.” Do so via a comment in the “Comments” section.

Given Speechless‘ empathetic nature, there stands no surprise fans continue to actively try and save Speechless.

One effort to save Speechless involves a change.org petition. If interested, you can sign here. Although ABC already passed on renewing Speechless, Ajani hopes the network will at least continue the series at their sister station, Freeform. Seth liked the idea, saying he wants to see a series about JJ in college on Freeform.

Regardless whether the attempts to resurrect Speechless works, a question sticks out to me.

Curious I asked #CPChatNow if the efforts to revive Speechless go for not, would they consider the show’s run successful? Mainly I am thinking television’s future. Will Speechless influence other networks to feature shows with a prominent character who has a disability or will networks use Speechless‘ ratings as an excuse to dismiss similar shows? Nobody possessed a crystal ball to know for certain. However, participants did claim Speechless as a success.

Ajani deemed the show successful, citing how Speechless wound up garnering a global reach. Paul absolutely considered the show a success, noting how “it was the first of it’s kind.” You might say Speechless holds status in television as a true pioneer! At the least, I said that!

Let us keep the Speechless conversation going at minimum one more week. Remember to answer the extend-the-conversation question, “Share a Speechless scene you related to.” Leave your answers in the comments below!

Then come by Twitter every Wednesday starting at 8pm ET to enjoy the live chat. Follow along with the hashtag “#CPChatNow.” Until then, remember. Do not blend in. Blend out!

This past week in #CPChatNow was stimulating as always as members discussed Speechless, kind deeds by friends, and the continued passage of time. This is #CPChatNow Co-Host, Devin Axtman, taking you along for the ride on this week’s recap.

First, I would like to highlight Co-Host, Zachary Fenell’s participation in the Cleveland UCP’s Race to Empower. In a cool note, he completed it with his childhood Physical Therapist.

Next, Zach asked members about a time a friend did something nice. Raisa chimed in about a friend helping her at a pub:

Next, we talked about the passage of time and how long people have spent at jobs:

Finally, members talked about the season finale of Speechless:

Unfortunately, Friday brought news Speechless was canceled, but I did get a like on my tweet from Minnie Driver:

This brings us to our Extend-The-Conversation Question: What is your favorite memory of Speechless?

Thanks for reading! Please join us each Wednesday at 8 Eastern at #CPChatNow on Twitter.

Much like a variety pack, the live cerebral palsy Twitter chat #CPChatNow offered quite the assortment Wednesday, May 1st, 2019. Rather than descriptive packaging though, you get me #CPChatNow co-host Zachary Fenell. I am here to recap the variation in discussion from our first May 2019 Twitter chat.

To start the dialogue, I asked participants what remained on their minds.

A familiar face to the chat Hailey surfaced to share her plans to visit Amsterdam. Additionally Hailey remained at work on meetings for her thesis. Factor in the five-hour time difference she now faces and you can easily understand her absence from #CPChatNow.

Another recognizable name stopped by the chat May 1st.

Soon to graduate Jorge popped in to give a life update. He mentioned competing in a Tough Mudder to round out his collegiate career. Meanwhile I told Jorge about my own competition coming up, a 10k for United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Cleveland’s Race to Empower.

Both a 10k and Tough Mudder offer their challenges. That leads to this week’s extend-the-conversation question. “How do you challenge yourself?” Leave your response in the “Comments.”

Challenges do not need to involve physical activity. As the chatter May 1st reminds us, various tasks can prove challenging.

For example, my co-host Devin Axtman and I each marveled at the intellectual challenges included in science. In-particular I theorized scientific vocabulary could intimidate. #CPChatNow’s resident scientist Timmy responded by saying “Then we failed as scientists when conveying our work to the general population.”